Co-pays discourage mammograms

January 25, 2008 7:24:51 AM PST

January 24, 2008 --

Cost is a factor in whether women get mammograms - or skip them

Even small co-payments discourage women from getting regular mammograms.

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that screening rates were more than 8 per cent lower among women required to make a co-payment, - even as little as $10 - compared to women who had full coverage.

The study looked at more than 350-thousand women between the ages of 65 and 69 who are part of the Medicare system.

Even though the study was done with older women , doctors believe it applies to all women.